Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London, today set out plans for half price fares on Underground, DLR, Overground and TfL Rail services for people who start their journeys before 7.30am.

“Half price fares on TfL’s Tube and rail services would really help some of London’s lowest paid workers who often have to work unsocial hours. This is a genuine fare cut that can be delivered immediately.

“Half price fares by half seven would also help tackle overcrowding by encouraging people to start their journeys earlier in the morning. Supporting those Londoners who get up early and make our city work is really important, providing real help with the cost of living in the capital. This is a win win policy for Londoners”.

Costings: Liberal Democrat analysis of TfL’s own figures shows that offering a half price fare will cost around £30 million per year. In the first two years of a Mayoral term this can be met by:

Withdrawing the £10m financial support TfL is giving to the Garden Bridge project.

Supporting the Silvertown bike and pedestrian bridge instead of the East London Road tunnel development.

Ending TfL staff nominee travel, which costs £10m. This is where TfL staff can nominate a friend or lodger in their household for free travel. (The Lib Dems would keep free travel for TfL staff.)

Caroline Pidgeon has also promised to adopt the long standing Liberal Democrat policy – first put forward by the Party in 2008 – to introduce a one hour bus ticket, which allows you to change buses as many times as you need within an hour while only paying a single fare of £1.50.​